As preppers, we often focus the vast majority of our attention on the big things- the so-called “bullets, beans, and band-aids.”  I want to give a little thought and mention to the more minor things that make daily life easier, but may slip off your mental radar.

To come up with this list, I went through a day jotting down all the “little things” that I use that I would prefer not to do without.  Some of these would be easy enough to put in a supply of.  Others would be items I would likely have to improvise over time if they were just no longer available.  A few (like all soap products, paper products, and re-usable canning lids) need future posts of their own to list alternatives, recipes, etc.

My List So Far

• Dental floss, toothpaste, & toothbrushes
• Rubber bands
• Hairbrush and ponytail holders
• Mousetraps
• Nail clippers
• Pens, pencils, & paper
• Deodorant
• Soap & detergent
• Tissues & toilet paper
• Plastic wrap, aluminum foil, and ziptop bags
• Batteries & flashlights
• Spatulas & bowl scrapers
• Dish scrubbers/cloths & towels
• Eyedrops
• Sunscreen
• Hand cream (especially in winter)
• Lip balm
• Canning lids
• Work gloves
• Rain gear
• Bungee cords
• Cable zip ties (these are useful for so many things!)
• Flyswatters/fly strips
• Knife sharpener
• Cleaning supplies
• Wire (on a farm, we use pieces of wire to fashion lots of things)
• Pliers (probably the tool I reach for most often)

Some of those (like ziptop bags) are really luxuries and I can do without them, but realizing now that I need to prepare for that will help me in planning to find alternatives (beyond washing them for reuse).   As I use each item, I am considering if there is a durable alternative I could acquire instead (for example, handkerchiefs vs. Kleenex).  Things like nail clippers and dish scrubbers will last a long time, so I can get a couple extra of those and check them off the list quickly.

Flashlights are a topic unto themselves really.  LED lights will last longer and are probably a better choice than standard ones, but the crank-style or solar rechargeable ones would be even better still.

Please think through your own day and help add to this list in the comments section.

Source: preppingtosurvive.com

                            Other useful resources:

Blackout USA (EMP survival and preparedness guide)

Backyard Innovator (All Year Round Source Of Fresh Meat,Vegetables And Clean Drinking Water)

Conquering the coming collapse (Financial advice and preparedness )

Liberty Generator (Easy DIY to build your own off-grid free energy device)

Backyard Liberty (Easy and cheap DIY Aquaponic system to grow your organic and living food bank)

Bullet Proof Home (A Prepper’s Guide in Safeguarding a Home )

Family Self Defense (Best Self Defense Strategies For You And Your Family)

Sold Out After Crisis (Best 37 Items To Hoard For A Long Term Crisis)